Page 23 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Nov 2014 Hong Kong

112 The alms bowl, patra in Sanskrit, was originally used in Indian
A rare green jade ‘bats’ alms bowl Buddhist practice as a begging bowl and water container for washing.
Qianlong In China, these bowls were made in metal, jade as well as ceramic,
Of compressed globular form, decorated in relief around the exterior with the former two materials used for ritual bowls and ceramic
with nine bats, a pair suspending wan symbols and another pair with versions for daily use. The present lot is a fine example of a carved
peaches, all on a dense ground of swirling clouds, the base carved jade alms bowl which would have been for ceremonial use. The
with swirling waves, the stone of an even deep green tone. decoration is particularly auspicious, as bats with peaches present the
16cm (6 1/4in) diam. wish for blessings and longevity, and bats with the wan symbol form
the rebus ‘wanfu’ meaning ‘May you have ten thousand blessings’.
HK$250,000 - 400,000
US$32,000 - 52,000 Compare a spinach-green jade bowl of similar style carving, with bats
on a dense ground of swirling clouds, in the Palace Museum, Beijing,
清乾隆 青玉雕海水雲蝠紋缽 illustrated in Zhongguo yuqi quanji, vol. 6, Shijiazhuang, 1993, pl.333.
For related bowls but carved with bats suspending the Eight Buddhist
Provenance 來源: Emblems, bajixiang, see Christie’s New York, 19th September 2006,
Rosenberg familly collection, acquired in London circa 1920 lot 33; and another at Sotheby’s New York, 19 March 2007, lot 18.
S.Marchant & Son Ltd., London, acquired by the present owner on
29 November 2007 (‘The Rosenberg Alms Bowl’) 缽，又稱缽盂，梵文PATRA，最初用於印度佛教，是僧人所用的盛水
A distinguished English private collection 器，也為向人乞食之用。在中國，缽以不同材料製成，有鐵缽、玉缽
和陶瓷缽，其中鐵缽和玉缽用於祭祀等禮儀活動，陶瓷缽用於日常生
Illustrated and Exhibited 著錄和展覽: 活。本玉缽上的紋飾均為吉祥的題材，蝠者，福也；桃者，壽也；蝙
S.Marchant & Son Ltd., Chinese Jades from Han to Qing, London, 蝠與桃子組合，寓意福壽雙全；蝙蝠配萬字符，代表「萬福」。本器
November 2005, Catalogue, no.118. 雕琢細膩，是一件不可多得的精良之作。

北京故宮博物院藏一件碧玉雕雲蝠紋缽，雕刻紋飾與本器相似，見
《中國玉器全集：6》，石家莊，1993年，圖版333。另有雕蝙蝠銜
八吉祥紋的例子，見紐約佳士得，2006年9月19日，拍品編號33及紐
約蘇富比，2007年3月19日，拍品編號18。

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